Colt Lyerla the latest player Ted Thompson takes a chance on

Posted by Darin Gantt on May 20, 2014, 8:38 AM EST

Not everyone was willing to even consider Colt Lyerla.

But the Packers have shown a willingness, perhaps even a fondness for second chances, and General Manager Ted Thompson made it clear that there are certain players he’s willing to stick his neck out for.

The Packers signed Lyerla after a free agent tryout. The talented former Oregon tight end wasn’t drafted, after leaving the team in October and then getting arrested on drug charges.

“You weigh it all. And every case is an individual case,” Thompson said, via Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin.com. “We have always believed that, or I have always believed, that there are certain things . . . that people can atone for, acknowledge their mistakes and get on with their lives. And I am a proponent of those kind of people that try to do that. And that’s where we’re at with Colt.”

The Packers have given out chances at redemption before, for players such as Koren Robinson and most recently Johnny Jolly.

Thompson said he talked to many people about Lyerla’s troubled background, and clearly did plenty of evaluation of his football skills as well. The kid is clearly talented, and had the best vertical leap and broad jump in his group at the Combine, running a 4.59-second 40 as well.

Let’s not be naive, it’s also easier to give chances when you have a stable organization and strong leadership and a quarterback.

But Thompson also obviouisly places a value on a good redemption story, which can help lift a team as well — especially if the guy can play.

He’s the only one willing to take a chance on this guy. A lot of talent, but apparently a divisive locker room cancer that can’t stay out of trouble. Good luck with that, even the Bengals wouldn’t sign this one.

gbmickey says:May 20, 2014 9:02 AM

So far he has may pretty good choices on players he gave a 2nd chance to unlike Minnesota who has led the NFL in arrests in recent years.

I would love to read his contract, I bet the Packers protected themselves with clauses that lay out the consequences for bad behavior.

But this article has it right when it mentions it takes a stable organization and strong leadership to pull this off. For example, a team that is switching coaching staffs and has a long history of players getting arrested (Love Boat anyone?) do not an option to sign a player like this.

jimmysee says:May 20, 2014 9:25 AM

Blaming the Packers for Sharper is like blaming Eisenhower for Nixon.

Doesn’t hold water.

stellarperformance says:May 20, 2014 9:30 AM

If this guy stays clean and says the right things and does his job well, he has no idea (yet) how welcomed the Packer faithful will make him feel.

From everything I have read and a little bit of firsthand input (Oregon OC in Phoenix golf tourney this past weekend,) this guy is not only starting caliber, he could be a difference-maker. Especially with Rodgers throwing to him. This guy could be the Finley that never showed up. What a find this could turn out to be.

It only means that he is despirate to find a tight end.
I don’t care for Ted at all. He uses the ‘draft the best player available BS’. The TE he drafted in the third was considered a 5 or 6 pick at best and to hear the analyst the guy had nothing remarkable about him to be a third.
The analyst must be correct because Ted just picked up three undrafteds in the last week.

It may also mean that the Jerm is not coming back anytime soon. A Neurologist would have to clear him to play again. He may be done.

Not hating on the kid. I hope he makes it. But Packers hypocrisy is kind of exposed.

purpleguy says:May 20, 2014 10:36 AM

If the Vikings signed this guy, this site would probably shut down from overload as Pack fans rushed to trash the decision. Jolly just had a substance abuse problem, but this guy’s a scumbag pure and simple.

The bears fans must have forgot. They sign quitters too, Cutler ring a bell!

uwsptke says:May 20, 2014 10:58 AM

The difference with Robinson (Seattle) and Jolly (Green Bay) is that Ted drafted those players before they had their legal issues, and had much more information to go off of. In that regard, this is new territory for Ted.

Hoping for the best, because he’s arguable the most talented player they’ve acquired this offseason. A base offense with Rodgers, Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Lyerla, and Lacy? Good luck stopping that.

schmitty2 says:May 20, 2014 11:02 AM

All he has to do is catch the ball and he instantly upgrades their TE position.

woodyg says:May 20, 2014 11:10 AM

If Thompson’s last few drafts were any better than just mediocre, GB would never have to touch someone like this. — This is just TT trying to make up for lousy drafting.

I don’t think the issues around Lyerla that kept him from being drafted are the drug ones. Sadly those aren’t that uncommon. It’s the fact that he is a kook, referencing the Sandy Hook shootings and his idea of a government conspiracy.

Does being a kook make you unfit to play in the NFL? I remember other conspiracy wonks in the past, notably Rashard Mendenhall. I don’t think he did his career any favors there, but no one said Mendenhall should be thrown out of the league. Something like this is just a negative like any other in the mix of positives and negatives about whether you want a guy. So when you have a guy with potential all-pro talent, it’s a no-brainer to sign him.

Saying kooky things while hi or wasted is certainly not unusual. In today’s world, with social media like twitter, a person’s bad judgement is captured for all to see. Colt was dumb enough to do this and now he has to own it. A good starting place would be to the Sandy Hook parents and community, if he hasn’t done that already.

See what I mean? I meant “high” not “hi” and that Colt should apologize. If in fact he is an addict and is trying to get sober, then good for him. He has a hard road ahead.

karlpk says:May 20, 2014 1:11 PM

I’m rooting for the guy to turn it around because he is a beast in every sense of the word, but I’ve mixed feelings. The GB locker room is filled with veterans and winners so that could rub off.
Criticism of TT esp from NFC North types makes me laugh. No GM gets it right all the time but TT has given McCarthy plenty to work with over the years and GB always contends even with crazy injury numbers –
With everyone focused on whether or not the Pack can pull together an effective defense this year I do believe the offense is going to set records – they are loaded for bear as they say – also lion and viking

rosstuckershair says:May 20, 2014 1:50 PM

Hoping for the best, because he’s arguable the most talented player they’ve acquired this offseason. A base offense with Rodgers, Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Lyerla, and Lacy? Good luck stopping that…..

With the 24th ranked Oline? Good luck keeping that going

jvando42 says:May 20, 2014 3:25 PM

The Packers got a deal. I hope Colt gets his act together. Shutting down his twitter account would help. He has million dollar skills and a five cent brain. I watched every one of his home games at Oregon in person. TV does not do him justice. He broke DeAnthony Thomas, LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner loose on a lot of those big runs with his blocking.

deltaoracle says:May 20, 2014 3:30 PM

Somehow that horrible GB OLine managed to help produce a 1200 yard rusher and an offense that ranked #3 in yards and #8 in points.
IF Lyerla can get his head on straight, the Packer offense would be very scary indeed.

The Packer O-line was ranked 24th. The SuperBowl winning Seattle Seahawks O-line was statistically very close…..ranked 23rd. Good luck stopping the Green Bay Packers in 2014. They are going to be tough.

It’s easy to put someone down for their short comings but it takes guts to pick yourself up and fight the odds stacked up against you. I have faith in Colt. I’ve watched him play every home game at Autzen and I know for a fact that he’s a winner. No one is perfect nor should anyone be expected to be so. As for the Packers and the Packers fan base, hold onto your seats, Colt is going to light it up, just wait and see!